Indians run over Fort Mill

Photo by SCOTT POWELL Gaffney quarterback DeEdward Burris heads for the end zone against Fort Mill on Thursday. Burris, a sophomore, rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the Indians' 40-0 victory. DeEdward Burris and the Gaffney Indians were far from flashy on offense and they didn't need to be against the winless Fort Mill Yellow Jackets on Thursday.

The game was played on Thursday because of heavy rains predicted for today.

Burris passed just eight times as the Indians kept the ball on the ground, rushing for 330 yards in a 40-0 victory at Fort Mill.

Burris and Kenard Lipscomb both topped the 100-yard rushing mark. Burris gained 112 yards on 12 carries, while Lipscomb had 142 yards on only eight carries, including a 76-yarder that put the Indians on top 14-0.

"I saw a lot of players come up on me, so I tried to make a move on the end and keep striding out until I made it the end zone," Lipscomb said.

Burris was efficient through the air, completing five of his eight throws for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Emison Hughes hauled in both TD tosses.

The Indians improved to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the region, but Gaffney coach Phil Strickland didn't like the way this game was headed early on.

"The first half we didn't perform very well," Strickland said. "We played on our heels a little bit. I could tell before the game, they weren't ready. The kids have to realize that no matter what the circumstances - rain, or playing on Thursday - they have to come ready to play. They were joking around a little bit."

Fort Mill quarterback Danny Till and the Yellow Jackets were all business on their first drive, but it stalled when linebacker John Michaels broke up a pass on a fourth-and-12 at the Indian 27.

On the Indians' first possession, they went 72 yards on just three plays with Burris capping the drive with a 30-yard TD run.

After Josh Harris missed a 33-yard field goal on the Indians' next possession, Lipscomb made it 14-0 on his second long touchdown run in the last three games. He had a 78-yarder against York.

"He has good vision and good quickness," Strickland said.

Despite the Yellow Jackets' struggles, they were still in it at the half, trailing 14-0.

But the Indians took command after intermission, scoring on their second series when a scrambling Burris found a wide open Emison Hughes for a 43-yard touchdown.

The combination struck again on the Indians' next possession when Hughes hauled in a 40-yard TD from Burris to make it 27-0 with 1:43 left in the third quarter.

Burris scored again on a 2- yard run midway through the fourth quarter. The Indians capitalized on a botched snap to the Fort Mill punter, with reserve quarterback Bo Davidson scoring from 16 yards to complete the Indian' scoring.

The Indians have outscored their region opponents, 136- 20. But Strickland said the competition will stiffen considerably with defending Class 4A Division II champion Clover and Northwestern next up for the Indians.

"Hopefully, these three games have given us a little confidence," he said. "But there will be a upswing in the level of competition."